COMMUNICATION FREELANCER

Rikolto (formerly known as VECO) is an international NGO with more than 40 years’ experience in partnering with farmer organisations and food chain actors across Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America. In Tanzania, our office is based in Arusha. The overall goal of our programme is to ensure that horticultural and grains food chains are sustainable and inclusive for smallholder farmers.

We are looking for a creative freelancer to provide input into and support implementation of Rikolto Tanzania’s communication plan.

You will be responsible for bringing Rikolto’s programme content to our stakeholders in Tanzania (and beyond) via the appropriate communication channels (digital and print).

You will ensure that all communication materials meet the expectations of our stakeholders and are delivered within the set deadlines.

You work for the Rikolto team in Tanzania, and at the same time you are part of Rikolto’s International Communication Team and will contribute pro-actively to its activities and goals.

Specifically, you will be responsible for:

• Supporting the Tanzania team to develop a high-quality communications workplan, with an overview and deadlines of all communication products, depending on the programme and PR priorities set with the Rikolto team in Tanzania and the international communications strategy.

• Guarantee Rikolto brand guidelines on internal and external documents such as letters, reports, presentations, as well as the visibility of Rikolto, donors and partners in events according to the need of the programs.
• Generating relevant content for online and print publications (interview colleagues, field visits, press covering of the events)
• Writing a bi-monthly news article or project page to feed the website of Rikolto in East Africa and write texts for the annual report.
• Producing, copy-editing, designing, proof reading and, if needed, translating of communication materials such as PowerPoint presentations, leaflets, brochures…
• Develop and maintain close relations with relevant journalists and communication officers of partner organisations
• Coaching Rikolto’ s programme colleagues in their digital branding on social media (Linked-In) and to improve their writing skills (give constructive feedback)
• Producing short videos - if needed
• Making at least one extensive publication (digital, print or video) on inclusive business relations between private businesses and farmer cooperatives (in collaboration with research partners)
• Working with Tanzania and Uganda staff and consultants who have direct responsibilities for communications work and supporting the development of a team approach to communications work

Key competences and skills required:

• Being able to communicate and write fluently in kiswahili and English
• Strong networking skills to get first-hand information on our activities from Rikolto staff and its partner organisations
• Creativity to think of the most attractive way to bring a message / programme content to our different stakeholder groups
• Affinity with sustainability themes, in particular in agricultural and food value chains
• Flexibility to react on new opportunities and to develop communication materials in short term
• Being interested and curious to see communication opportunities (chances for a good story, journalistic skills)
• Attention to quality and details (consistent content and style)
• Have good planning skills to meet the agreed deadlines;
• Excellent knowledge of the regular Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Powerpoint)
• Good photographer
• Knowledge of graphic design / video editing software
• Degree in Communication, Media, Journalism, Language or Literature. Or equivalent by experience.

Terms and Conditions

Rikolto Tanzania will offer the best candidate a 1-year consultancy contract which will specify the number of days that will be worked.  The number of days will depend on the communications workplan (to be developed with the consultant), taking into account the available budget.